Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, M.D., Ph.D., is the Executive Vice President and Head of Research & Development (R&D) in Novavax, ensuring the company is maximizing the tremendous potential of Novavax’s proven technology, including the Matrix-M™ adjuvant. She also serves as the chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the INTREPID Alliance.
As an M.D., Ph.D., Dr. Draghia-Akli’s career began in human genetics and advanced therapies, notably on rare diseases. She began working in gene therapies in the early stages of that research. As a scientific co-founder and research lead, her team delivered the first gene therapy product approved for any animal application in 2007.
Throughout her career, she contributed to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel products, for both public health and business success. She leverages her abilities to strategize and innovate, to integrate science and business impact, while delivering the next generation of medicines.
Dr. Draghia-Akli previously served at Johnson & Johnson, as Global Head of Global Public Health R&D, and Merck, Inc., delivering groundbreaking innovations in drugs and vaccines to address climate-related, emerging and entrenched health threats, such as Dengue, coronaviruses, antimicrobial resistance, tuberculosis, and leprosy.
Her career has included specialty focus in the areas of genomic medicine, advanced therapies, vaccines, and infectious diseases including the medical aspect of regulations, policy, and global health.
She also worked with the European Commission, supporting programmatic, legislative, regulatory and policy issues in medical research and innovation. Over her career, Dr. Draghia-Akli has authored many scientific publications and served on numerous boards and committees to help shape thinking on vaccine and public health issues. Dr. Draghia-Akli received an M.D. from the University of Medicine Carol Davilla, Romania and a Ph.D. in human genetics from the University of Medicine Carol Davilla and undertook additional doctoral and post-doctoral training at University Rene Descartes, France and Baylor College of Medicine, USA respectively.